State Rep. Thomas Holbrook has a big pension boost in his future as a result of Governor Pat Quinn’s appointing him to chair the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
Just a Quincidence that he also voted to hike Illinois state income taxes 67% after last year’s election.
Right?
Will there be another Tribune editorial on the subject?
Another ousted Democratic Party State Senator has gained a little-work sinecure from an appointment made by Governor Pat Quinn.
And in discussing it with a Chicago Tribune reporter, Quinn is bold enough to link it to hiking income taxes:
“The governor said Smith has been ‘friend of mine for quite some time,’ noting that Smith once sponsored a resolution on Quinn’s behalf calling for the state to raise income taxes on those who make more than $250,000, with the money going toward education.”
Most people can connect the dots.
There was a bit of a lag time between when the Chicago Tribune ran this story and this April 22, 2011, editorial.
Some wordsmith at the Chicago Tribune editorial board came up with the wonderful word “Quinncidence” January 23rd to characterize actions that look like pay-to-play in the Pat Quinn
It’s first use came when Quinn appointed defeated State Rep. Careen Gordon of Morris to the Illinois Prison Review Board.
The post pays more than that of state representative, $86,000 a year.
Losing state legislators often get offers like that.
I got such an offer when Lee Daniels was trying to get me not to run in 2000 and another, paying less but still far more than I had earned as state rep., after I lost the primary election to Rosemary Kurtz.
Both would have increased my pension by a lot. I refused both offers.
Unlike Gordon, I didn’t talk to the Governor about a pending income tax increase vote and, then, switch my position for “No” to “Yes.” Just three days after she talked to Quinn.
There was a firestorm after Pat Quinn announced Gordon’s appointment, which forced the dropping of the idea.
As I noted two days ago, Quinn’s appointment of Gordon to be Associate General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation looking like another Quinncidence.
The salary?
Slightly less than before–$84,000–but still more than an Illinois representative is paid.
This position does not require going through the buzz saw of Senate confirmation.
No quid pro quo.
Just a Quinncidence, as the Tribune points out in its editorial.
Appoint Careen Gordon to something else.
Little wonder people are cynical.
Governor Pat Quinn talked to defeated Democrat, elected from Morris, living in Chicago already, about voting for the income tax hike.
After the election, he appointed her to the Prisoner Review Board.
$86,000 a year, more than she earned as state rep.
All hell broke loose
It’s three months later and guess what?
Quinn has found an $84,000 job for Gordon.
Associate Director of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Just a Quincidence, of course.
Give credit to someone on the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board for originating the word,
“Quinncidence“
From the January 23, 2011, Chicago Tribune.
It was inspired by the appointment of lame duck State Rep. Careen Gordon, a Morris Democrat who now lives in Chicago who voted for the 67% income tax hike and then got appointed to a cushy job as a member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
Just a coincidence, of course.
The Tribune and others are watching to see if the other lame ducks, listed below, also land government jobs after voting to hike income taxes:
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